Opposition to Alice uranium mine strengthens Green vote
The West Australian
A strong Green vote in the heart of Australia shows the people of Alice Springs don't want a uranium mine in their backyard, environmentalists claim.
The Greens have never had a member in the NT Legislative Assembly, which was formed in 1974 and dominated by the CLP until Labor's shock win in 2001.
But the party says the election result showed support is growing for the marginal party despite the inherently conservative outlook of Territorians.
It will be at least another week before final figures on the political makeup of the NT are known but the Greens say although they have not won a seat they have recorded their best ever result.
In the seat of Braitling, covering the north-west corner of Alice Springs, the party polled higher than Labor. Natalie Wasley, coordinator of the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, said there was a strong Green vote because people were opposed to the idea of a uranium project at Angela and Pamela.
She called on whichever party forms the new government to reject applications for exploration on the deposits located 25km from the desert town.
“The NT election result clearly shows that people will not just sit back and accept this proposal,” she said.
“On the weekend residents took their opinions to the ballot box and voted for candidates opposing the uranium project...
“The government now has the opportunity to put community voices ahead of corporate interests.”
Jimmy Cocking, from the Arid Lands Environment Centre, said people were “frustrated and outraged” by the proposal.
“The waste from a uranium operation would remain here long after the companies have packed up and left town,” he said.
The new member for Braitling, the CLP's Adam Giles, said he would make a stand on the mine following the results of a review.
“Of course people have concerns but we need to make sure they are safe,” he said.
On the weekend, Green Senator Bob Brown said the Green vote had jumped on the back of concerns about climate change, environmental issues and also the uranium mine. “It's a very good result for the Greens,” Senator Brown said.
“They have averaged, in the six seats in which they stood, 16 per cent (of the vote).”
Senator Brown said the Green vote increased despite the party reducing its number of candidates - down from 11 at the 2005 election. “We actually stood in half as many seats and our vote overall has gone up,” he said.
“We're moving closer and closer to not just influencing elections but winning seats.”
The Greens have never had a member in the NT Legislative Assembly, which was formed in 1974 and dominated by the CLP until Labor's shock win in 2001.
But the party says the election result showed support is growing for the marginal party despite the inherently conservative outlook of Territorians.
It will be at least another week before final figures on the political makeup of the NT are known but the Greens say although they have not won a seat they have recorded their best ever result.
In the seat of Braitling, covering the north-west corner of Alice Springs, the party polled higher than Labor. Natalie Wasley, coordinator of the Beyond Nuclear Initiative, said there was a strong Green vote because people were opposed to the idea of a uranium project at Angela and Pamela.
She called on whichever party forms the new government to reject applications for exploration on the deposits located 25km from the desert town.
“The NT election result clearly shows that people will not just sit back and accept this proposal,” she said.
“On the weekend residents took their opinions to the ballot box and voted for candidates opposing the uranium project...
“The government now has the opportunity to put community voices ahead of corporate interests.”
Jimmy Cocking, from the Arid Lands Environment Centre, said people were “frustrated and outraged” by the proposal.
“The waste from a uranium operation would remain here long after the companies have packed up and left town,” he said.
The new member for Braitling, the CLP's Adam Giles, said he would make a stand on the mine following the results of a review.
“Of course people have concerns but we need to make sure they are safe,” he said.
On the weekend, Green Senator Bob Brown said the Green vote had jumped on the back of concerns about climate change, environmental issues and also the uranium mine. “It's a very good result for the Greens,” Senator Brown said.
“They have averaged, in the six seats in which they stood, 16 per cent (of the vote).”
Senator Brown said the Green vote increased despite the party reducing its number of candidates - down from 11 at the 2005 election. “We actually stood in half as many seats and our vote overall has gone up,” he said.
“We're moving closer and closer to not just influencing elections but winning seats.”